Serotypes and pathogens in paediatric pneumonia

Multiple pathogens may cause pneumonia. Three vaccines with demonstrated or potentially major impact on paediatric pneumonia caused by pneumococcus and/or non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are projected to soon become globally available. Estimating the magnitude of this impact requires precise knowledge of the etiology of pneumonia. We reviewed studies to evaluate the relative importance of specific pneumococcal serotypes and NTHi as pneumonia pathogens. While emerging conjugate vaccines, especially those containing serotype 1, appear to have great potential toward the prevention of childhood pneumonia based on expanded serotype coverage, the importance of NTHi in childhood pneumonia has yet to be elucidated. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.